SIH Stroke Network
If you or a loved one shows signs of stroke, call 911
The SIH Stroke Network brings together all four SIH hospitals to provide advanced, coordinated stroke care across Southern Illinois. SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and SIH Herrin Hospital are certified Primary Stroke Centers, while SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital and SIH Harrisburg Medical Center are certified Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals.
Beyond SIH facilities, the SIH Brain & Spine Institute partners with three community hospitals—Marshall Browning Hospital (Du Quoin), Pinckneyville Community Hospital, and Franklin Hospital (Benton)—to expand access to stroke expertise. Through telehealth, SIH neurointensivists are available 24/7 to assess patients in real time, make recommendations, and collaborate with emergency department physicians. This means that regardless of the time of day or even weather conditions, patients can be evaluated quickly by specialists.
Primary Stroke Centers
SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and SIH Herrin Hospital are certified by the Joint Commission as Primary Stroke Centers and participate in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With the Guidelines® program. In 2025, both hospitals achieved the Gold Plus Award for exceptional door-to-needle times—the speed at which clot-busting medications are delivered once a patient arrives.
The national standard is under 60 minutes. SIH sets the bar even higher, with a goal of 30 minutes or less. In 2025, SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale reached a record of just 15 minutes, and SIH Herrin Hospital achieved 19 minutes.
These results reflect the expertise, coordination, and dedication of teams both inside and outside the hospital.
Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals
SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital and SIH Harrisburg Medical Center serve as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals. These hospitals are vital to delivering time-sensitive stroke care in rural areas, ensuring eligible patients can receive clot-busting medication quickly. Emergency department nurses, physicians, and SIH neurointensivists (through telehealth) work together to identify, evaluate, and stabilize stroke patients before transfer to a higher level of care if needed.
Telestroke Network
To extend access even further, SIH operates a Telestroke Network that connects local rural hospitals outside the SIH system with our neurointensivists. This partnership ensures 24/7/365 specialist consultation, giving patients across Southern Illinois the best chance for rapid treatment and recovery.